Animals

How Ashdod saved hundreds of thousands of fish following the season's first rain

Following the first rainfall, oxygen levels in the water dropped, threatening the river's wildlife. The Ashdod Municipality acted to improve water conditions and protect the ecosystem.

The Lachish River is a habitat for fish, turtles, and waterfowl, and serves as a central urban nature space in Ashdod.
A buff-breasted sandpiper in the northern Negev, over the weekend.

Rare bird spotted over weekend for only second time in Israel

Marbled stingray off the coast of Israel.

A hidden underwater world: Rare rays spotted off the Galilee coast

‘THE ESCAPE’ stars Ido Tako as Yoel, a young man born into a sect that, despite a disclaimer, will remind many of the Lev Tahor cult.

‘The Escape’ makes its debut, ‘Shalom’ enchants - review


More trails, more damage? Why marking additional hiking routes in Israel should be avoided

A new study examined what happens to wildlife when new hiking trails are opened in previously inaccessible areas, finding that certain species move away from the paths or alter their activity hours.

A total of 288 cameras placed at various distances from the trails recorded wildlife before, during, and after the disturbance.

The Persian leopard named after the NBA star arrives at the Safari

A Persian leopard named Deni, after Deni Avdija, arrived at the Ramat Gan Safari to mate with Noa as part of a European breeding program.

Deni, the new Persian leopard at Ramat Gan Safari.

Using babies, Israeli study reveals why AI fails to truly understand animal calls

Even as AI masters human language, a groundbreaking Israeli study reveals a fundamental flaw in how AI decodes the animal kingdom: It hears the volume and pitch, but misses the point.

German shepherd barking (illustrative)

Negev Vet clinics founder Dr. Galia Melman Shalev to receive award for Oct. 7 animal rescue efforts

The chair of ICAVA congratulated Shalev on the award, calling her work “a reflection of the highest values of the veterinary profession: compassion, service, responsibility and courage.”

Dr. Galia Melman Shalev will receive the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's 2026 Animal Welfare Award for her efforts to rescue and treat hundreds of pets following the October 7 massacre.

Mysterious Bolivian 'weird cat' recognized as new species, marking first discovered in over century

Its path to scientific recognition began in 2016, when Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz received a call from the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary about what staff described as an unusual cat.

A Leopardus tilcayo cat, a newly identified species through research led by National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales Ascarrunz, walks at the Senda Verde animal refuge in the Yungas region, Bolivia, September 1, 2026.

‘Child predator tour’: Chester Zoo corrects awkward ticket listing caused by computer error

A zoo spokeswoman said the mistake was "due to our default naming convention in our system", but it was "quickly changed".

Ten-week-old Sumatran tiger cubs play next to their mother Dini, 10, during their debut at Taman Safari Indonesia in Pasuruan in East Java province on June 4, 2026.

Sea levels rising: The new threat that could displace sea turtles from Israel's beaches

A new study warns rising sea levels could shrink Israel's sea turtle nesting areas by 2100, erasing up to 96% of beach width between Tel Aviv Marina and Port.

Brown sea turtle returns to the sea.

50-day prison sentence for man who kept monkey chained with iron links at home

Jerusalem Magistrate's Court also imposed 10,000-shekel fine on defendant, who kept green monkey and chameleon in his yard without permit.

The defendant kept a grivet monkey inside a cage in his yard for at least a month.

Six Israeli cities ban live chickens for Yom Kippur kapparot, animal rights org. urges more to join

Animal rights group Let the Animals Live says Tel Mond, Yeruham, Mevaseret Zion, Yavne, Kiryat Bialik, and Rishon Lezion have joined the initiative to ban live chickens for kapparot.

A man performs the ancient Jewish ritual of kaparot

Injured ibex returns to Ein Gedi reserve after amputation at Ramat Gan Safari Hospital

A Nubian ibex with a broken leg underwent amputation at the Wildlife Hospital and returned to Ein Gedi reserve functioning on three legs last week.

“Her will to live and overcome adversity is heartwarming.” Release of the three-legged ibex into the wild.